ABSTRACT

This introduction to computers presents the fundamental ideas and principles on which modern computers are built. While used as a text for courses in computer appreciation as well as introductions to computer science, the book has found a wide audience among computer users who wish to understand the basis of the machines that form and transform our society.

What Computers Do • Teaching Silicon to Compute • Building a Computer •†Theoretical Computers • Real Computers • Programming • Subroutines and Recursion • Real Programming Languages • Applications • Cooperating Computers • Graphics • Artificial Intelligence • Answers • The text is supplemented by a web site that gives access to other problems and projects.

chapter 1|28 pages

Introduction: What Computers Do

chapter 2|38 pages

Teaching Silicon to Compute

chapter 3|36 pages

Building a Computer

chapter 4|34 pages

Theoretical Computers

chapter 5|36 pages

Real Computers

chapter 6|32 pages

Programming

chapter 7|32 pages

Subroutines and Recursion

chapter 8|34 pages

Real Programming Languages

chapter 9|24 pages

Applications

chapter 10|26 pages

Cooperating Computers

chapter 11|22 pages

Graphics

chapter 12|32 pages

Artificial Intelligence